Glossary

Name of term Definition of termS
AcceptanceThe act of accepting something or someone1
AdolescenceThe period of life when a child develops into an adult1
AdvocateA person who actively works to end intolerance, educate others, and support social equity for a group6
AllyTypically any non-LGBT person who supports and stands up for the rights of LGBT people, though LGBT people can be allies, such as a lesbian who is an ally to a transgender person 2
ArousalResponsiveness to stimuli1
AttitudesThe way one thinks and feels about someone or something 1
AttractionA feeling that makes someone romantically or sexually interested in another person 1
AwarenessKnowing that something (such as a situation, condition, or problem) exists1
BehaviorAnything that an organism does involving action and response to stimulation
Biological diversityAn instance of being composed of differing elements or qualities1
Bisexual An individual who is emotionally, romantically, and/or physically attracted to the same gender and different genders. Sometimes stated as “bi.” People who are bisexual need not have had equal sexual experience with people of the same or different genders and, in fact, need not have had any sexual experience at all; it is the attraction that helps determine orientation4
Cauterizationto burn (something, such as a wound) with heat or a chemical substance in order to destroy infected tissue1
Chromosomal sexThe sex as determined by the presence of the XX (female) or the XY (male) genotype in somatic cells, without regard to phenotypic manifestations. Called also genetic sex.8
ChromosomesStructure found in the nucleus of a cell, which contains the genes. Chromosomes come in pairs, and a normal human cell contains 46 chromosomes.3
ClosetedDescribes a person who is not open about their sexual orientation or gender identity, or an ally who is not open about their support for people who are LGBTQ 4
Coming outFor most people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, the process of self-acceptance that continues throughout one’s life, and the sharing of the information with others. Individuals often establish a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender/gender-nonconforming identity within themselves first, and then may choose to reveal it to others. Coming out can also apply to the family and friends of lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender youth or adults when they reveal to others their connection to an LGBTQ person or the community. There are many different degrees of being out: Some may be out to friends only, some may be out publicly, and some may be out only to themselves. It’s important to remember that coming out is an incredibly personal and transformative experience. Not everyone is in the same place when it comes to being out, and it is critical to respect where each person is in that process of self-identification. It is up to each person, individually, to decide if and when to come out or disclose 4
ConformTo behave in a way that is accepted by most people 1
ConfusionA situation in which people are uncertain about what to do or are unable to understand something clearly 1
DenialAssertion that an allegation is false1
DepressionA serious medical condition in which a person feels very sad, hopeless, and unimportant and often is unable to live in a normal way 1
DoubtTo believe that (something) may not be true or is unlikely 1
DreadTo fear greatly1
Emotional abuseIncludes non-physical behaviors such as threats, insults, constant monitoring or “checking in,” excessive texting, humiliation, intimidation, isolation or stalking 5
EmotionsA strong feeling (such as love, anger, joy, hate, or fear)1
Endocrinologic sexThe phenotypic manifestations of sex determined by endocrine influences, such as development of breasts and genital organs.8
EstrogenA hormone that occurs naturally in women1
FearTo be afraid of (something or someone)1
FeminineCharacteristics associated with women1
FetusA developing human from usually two months after conception to birth 1
Gay The adjective used to describe people who are emotionally, romantically, or physically attracted to people of the same gender (e.g., gay man, gay people). In contemporary contexts, “lesbian” is often a preferred term for women, though many women use the word “gay” to describe themselves. People who are gay need not have had any sexual experience; it is the attraction that helps determine orientation4
Gender identityOne’s deeply held core sense of being male, female, some of both, or neither. One’s gender identity does not always correspond to biological sex. Awareness of gender identity is usually experienced as early as 18 months old and reinforced in adolescence 4
Gender queerA blanket term used to describe people whose gender falls outside of the gender binary 6
Gender spectrumThe concept that gender exists beyond a simple “male/female” binary model, but instead exists on an infinite continuum that transcends the two. Some people fall towards more masculine or more feminine aspects, some people move fluidly along the spectrum, and some identify off the spectrum entirely 4
GeneralizationA statement about a group of people or things that is based on only a few people or things in that group1
GenesPieces of DNA that are passed from parents to offspring and contain the information needed to specify traits3
GeneticsThe scientific study of how genes control the characteristics of plants and animals 1
GenomeEntire set of genetic instructions found in a cell 3
GestationThe time when a person or animal is developing inside its mother before it is born1
Gonadal sexThe sex as determined on the basis of the gonadal tissue present (ovarian or testicular).8
GriefA cause of deep sadness1
GuiltA bad feeling caused by knowing or thinking that you have done something bad or wrong 1
HeterosexualA person who is only attracted to members of the opposite sex. Also called “straight." 2
HomophobiaAn aversion to lesbian or gay people that often manifests itself in the form of prejudice and bias. Similarly, “biphobia” is an aversion to bisexuality and people who are bisexual, and “transphobia” is an aversion to people who are transgender. “Homophobic,” “biphobic,” and “transphobic” are the related adjectives. 4
HormonesA natural substance that is produced in the body and that influences the way the body grows or develops 1
HypersexualExhibiting unusual or excessive concern with or indulgence in sexual activity1
InnateExisting from the time a person or animal is born 1
LesbianA woman who is emotionally, romantically, and/or physically attracted to other women. People who are lesbians need not have had any sexual experience; it is the attraction that helps determine orientation4
LGBTAn acronym that collectively refers to individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. It is sometimes stated as “GLBT” (gay, lesbian, bi, and transgender). Occasionally, the acronym is stated as “LGBTA” to include people who are asexual or allies, “LGBTQ,” with “Q” representing queer or questioning 4
LifestyleLifestyle: A negative term often incorrectly used to describe the lives of people who are LGBTQ. The term is disliked because it implies that being LGBTQ is a choice4
MasculineHaving qualities appropriate to or usually associated with a man1
MaternalOf, relating to, belonging to, or characteristic of a mother3
MonogamousThe state or custom of being married to one person at a time or of having only one mate at a time1
MonosexualityWhen a person is only attracted to one gender7
MoralsBeliefs based on what one thinks is right and good 1
Morphological sexSex determined on the basis of the morphology of the external genitals.8
MythAn idea or story that is believed by many people but that is not true 1
NiblingA gender neutral term for non-binary niece or nephew9
NatureThe inherent character or basic constitution of a person or thing1
Non-monosexualityWhen a person is attracted to people of more than one gender7
Nuclear sexThe sex as determined on the basis of the presence or absence of sex chromatin in somatic cells, its presence normally indicating the XX (female) genotype, and its absence the XY (male) genotype.8
NurtureThe sum of the environmental factors influencing the behavior and traits expressed by an organism 1
Out Describes people who openly self-identify as LGBTQ in their private, public, and/or professional lives4
Outingwhen someone reveals another person’s sexuality or gender identity to an individual or group, often without the person’s consent or approval; not to be confused with “coming out”6
PiblingA gender neutral term for aunt or uncle9
PartnerA person with whom one shares an intimate relationship1
Preferred gender pronounsA preferred gender pronoun, or PGP, is the pronoun or set of pronouns that an individual would like others to use when talking to or about that individual. In English, the singular pronouns that we use most frequently are gendered (ex. she, he), which can create an issue for transgender and gender-nonconforming people, who may prefer that you use gender neutral or gender-inclusive pronouns when talking to or about them (ex. they, their) 4
PrejudiceAn unfair feeling of dislike for a person or group because of race, sex, religion, etc. 1
PrenatalOccurring, existing, performed, or used before birth, such as prenatal care, the prenatal period, prenatal testing, prenatal vitamins 3
QueerA term used by some people—particularly youth—to describe themselves and/or their community. Reappropriated from its earlier negative use, the term is valued by some for its defiance, by some because it can be inclusive of the entire community, and by others who find it to be an appropriate term to describe their more fluid identities. Traditionally a negative or pejorative term for people who are gay, “queer” is still sometimes disliked within the LGBT community. Due to its varying meanings, this word should only be used when self-identifying or quoting someone who self-identifies as queer (i.e. “My cousin identifies as genderqueer.”) 4
QuestioningFor some, the process of exploring and discovering one's own sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression 2
Sex hormonesGlandular secretions involved in the regulation of sexual functions. The principal sex hormone in the male is testosterone, produced by the testes. In the female the principal sex hormones are the estrogens and progesterone, produced by the ovaries. These hormones influence the secondary sex characters, such as the shape and contour of the body, the distribution of body hair, and the pitch of the voice. The male hormones stimulate production of spermatozoa in men, and the female hormones control ovulation, pregnancy, and the menstrual cycle in women.8
Sexual orientationEmotional, romantic, or sexual feelings toward other people. People who are straight experience these feelings primarily for people of a different gender than their own. People who are gay or lesbian experience these feelings primarily for people of the same gender; people who are bisexual experience these feelings for people of different genders though not always at the same time 4
Social normsSomething (such as a behavior or way of doing something) that is usual or expected1
SupportTo give help or assistance to (someone or something)1
TestosteroneA hormone that occurs naturally in men and male animals1
TransgenderA person who identifies with or expresses a gender identity that differs from the one which corresponds to the person's sex at birth1
UltimatumA final proposition, condition, or demand whose rejection will end negotiations and lead to force or other direct action1